Talking Points....
This week's discussion will focus on the last two parts of Pastor Doug's awe-inspiring series "Amazing Grace."
I. Woven in Works.
A. There are works in life that we will be judged on as believers.
1. 1 Peter 1:17 - If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth;
2. Matthew 16:27 - For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every person according to his deeds.
3. Why do you think God chose to reward us for our good works and not punish us for our sins if we believe in Him?
B. The Judgement Seat of Christ.
1. Only believers will be at the Judgement Seat of Christ.
2. We will be there to determine the degree of our rewards.
3. 2 Corinthians 5:10 - For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive compensation for his deeds done through the body, in accordance with what he has done, whether good or bad.
4. 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 - According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each person must be careful how he builds on it. For no one can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, each one’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each one’s work. If anyone’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet only so as through fire.
5. We are building on the foundation of His grace.
6. Are you excited for God to judge your works for His Kingdom? Why or why not?
C. Our works matter.
1. Not all works are the same.
2. Some works are pure with right motives.
3. Other works are impure with wrong motives.
4. How can we make sure that our works line up with His will?
D. God will meet with us personally to reward us.
1. Matthew 6:1-4 - “Take care not to practice your righteousness in the sight of people, to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.
“So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, so that they will be praised by people. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your charitable giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
2. If you find yourself looking for praise from others instead of God, what can you do to change that?
E. The Great White Throne of Judgement.
1. Revelation 20:11-14 - Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them; and they were judged, each one of them according to their deeds. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
2. Everyone in front of the Great White Throne of Judgement is an unbeliever.
3. When we find ourselves in fear of judgement, what can we do to remind ourselves of His never-ending grace?
F. The evidence of a changed life is change.
1. If you believe, you will want to do good works.
2. How has being a believer encouraged you to do good works?
G. Our Father is always watching.
1. God wants to bless us.
2. God won't bless disobedience.
3. It matters how we live.
4. What things can we do to remind ourselves that God is watching, so that we live a blessed life?
II. Setup in Sanctification.
A. Blessed Assurance.
1. Perfect submission, all is at rest. I in my Savior am happy and blessed.
2. We are happy and blessed because we have a Savior.
3. When we feel unhappy and a lack of blessing, what can we do?
4. This is my story, this is my song.
5. One can't help but tell about it.
6. Share a time when you felt compelled to share your testimony with someone else.
B. Self Reliance.
1. Many believers have become self reliant.
2. One doesn't sin as much as they once did, so they think they don't need as much grace as they once did.
3. Have you ever felt like you didn't need as much grace as you once did? What changed to make you realize that you still need grace ever day?
C. Grace is amazing.
1. James 2:10 The Living Bible - And the person who keeps every law of God but makes one little slip is just as guilty as the person who has broken every law there is.
2. We have all made at least one slip.
3. When you slip up, what should you do?
D. We are all happy and blessed because we still have a Savior.
1. John 17:15-19 - I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.
2. The grace that saves us also changes us.
3. How has grace changed you?
E. Positional Salvation.
1. This starts at the moment of Salvation.
2. The Holy Spirit comes in and immediately starts working in you.
3. How did the Holy Spirit change you after being saved?
F. Progressive Salvation.
1. You are growing in Christ.
2. You are going from glory to glory.
3. This is your faith walk.
4. How can we make sure that we are always growing in Christ?
G. Perfected Sanctification.
1. We will experience this once we stand before God one day.
2. Does it scare or excite you when you think about standing before God and why?
H. Self control.
1. We learn self discipline and restraint.
2. Titus 2:11-14 NIV - For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
3. Grace trains us to live our lives set apart for His purpose.
4. How has His grace helped you learn self control?
I. Relationships with others.
1. Grace teaches us to live upright in our relationship with others.
2. How has your relationship with others changed since understanding His grace.
J. Intimacy with God.
1. Many believers still struggle with intimacy with God because they are still looking for conformation that they are still in right standing with Him.
2. Once you fully understands grace, you will stop looking and start receiving everything He has for you.
3. When we find ourselves looking for confirmation that we are still in right standing, what should we do?
K. Your greatest testimony is the one that reveals how amazing grace still is in your life.
1. The undying amazement that you manifest, will be the catalyst that compels others to want it for themselves.
2. Share a time when you shared with someone else about how amazing grace still is in your life.
L. Grace will train you to be set apart in your relationship with God.
1. Grace teaches us to separate from our old lifestyle, and honor God with our new life.
2. How has understanding grace changed you and your relationship with God?
M. Reflection time.
1. What has stood out to you the most with these messages "Settled in Salvation" and "Woven in Works?"